Local tax rebates still on the decline

A declining trend continues in most local taxing entities as sales tax rebates were down in the month of October, according to the Texas Comptroller’s office.

The rebate received by the City of Rockdale was down 11.5 percent compared to a year ago. The Oct. 2010 check was in the amount of $43,190, whereas $48,801 was received in Oct. 2009.

Year-to-date, Rockdale has received $580,925, down 6.5 percent.

Milam C ount y showed a 19.3 percent decrease in year-to-date totals and was down 34.6 percent for the month.

Bordering counties saw an increase for the month and most in year-to-date totals. Only Lee County saw a negative in year-to-date compared to refunds received at this same time in 2009.

All Milam County towns, except for Buckholts continue to fall in slow decline in yearto date totals. Buckholts is up almost 17 percent in that category.

State and local sales tax figures represent sales that occurred in August and were collected in September.

UP IN ALMOST ALLSECTORS–
Comptroller Susan Combs said the state collected $1.57 billion in sales tax revenue in Septem- ber, up 6.8 percent from a year ago.

“This increase is significantly larger than recent monthly gains which have been in the 0 to 2 percent range,” said Combs. “Sales tax increases were posted across almost all sectors including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade and restaurants.”

Sales tax allocations to local governments were up 6 percent compared to Oct. 2009. So far this calendar year, local sales tax allocations are still down 1.3 percent compared to the same period in 2009.